Both parts of the "Shook Ones" saga – one the benchmark single that put Mobb Deep on the map – and amongst the finest gritty hip hop singles of the era! Part 2 is from the first LP and Part I part one is the original, one-time promo only version with arguably sharper lyrics. ... (Hip Hop, Funky 45's)read more7-inch, Vinyl record
"Kibe Kibe" has a groove that's totally great – fast, almost skittish percussion at the start – soon held together by these organ swirls that really help the tune build amidst some riffing guitar – while the vocals rise, fall, and then explode into a really funky passage! ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A never-issued performance of this classic tune from the Thelonious Monk songbook – recorded for Danish Radio in 1963, and played by the legendary quartet that featured Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, John Ore on bass, and Frankie Dunlop on drums! The quality is right up there with some of the ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A fantastic take on the classic "Beggin" – a lost Four Seasons tune from the 60s that's gone onto much greater fame in recent years! The Monophonics present the tune in a way that keeps all the glory of the original – from the funky drums, to the romping keyboards, to the ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A killer from Bobby Moore! Sure, he's best known for the classic southern soul number "Searching For My Love" – but the one we die for is "Hey Mr DJ", a slow vamping instrumental with a honking tenor all over the top, and bubbling organ and really heavy drums underneath. ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(Maroon label pressing. Vinyl has a number of light marks but plays great.)
Romping drums and burning Hammond organ – a mighty nice combination, and one that pushes "Pick & Shovel" out of the gate with a strong vibe right from the start! There's a great solo in the middle, too – organ that maybe recalls the work of Alan Hawkshaw at times, but ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A great little soul tune with some mighty nice organ – used here as an instrument that swirls up and all around the tune – setting the scene and egging on the vocals, which feel like some sort of old school Curtom – but at a rootsier level! There's a tinkling piano in the middle ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Beautiful early work from the Notations! "At the Crossroads" is a sad, slow harmony number – of the sort the group were great at in their early years, and done with that sad, rasping tone that always makes their work sound so great. "It's A New Day" is a bit more upbeat ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(Plays with some crackles during the intro on both sides. Labels have some wear and a small peeled spot.)
Sweet sunny sounds from the Hawaii scene at the end of the 70s – served up here by a funk group who would have been huge, were they working in Los Angeles or San Francisco! There's a sharp blend of jazz, funk, and soul throughout – like some of the hippest Fantasy Records groups – ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
"Ain't It Good Enough" is a nice rolling instrumental, with a good live party feel, and a nice brassy finish. "I've Been Trying" appears to be recorded live too, and is a sweet cover of Curtis Mayfield's famous track. 7-inch, Vinyl record
Double dose of Orgone in prime funky hero mode! "Bulletproof" is a tight jam with a bit of a 70s cinematic funk feel with tight horns courtesy of their friends in Ikebe Shakedown and some really cool, unpredictable changes as it rolls along – really ratcheting up the percussion ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A killer jam from Orgone – like a lost funky gem from the immediate post disco/nascent boogie funk years! Don't worry, "Don't' Stop" is not a indie funk version of the Fleetwood Mac tune, but a tight little tune with a killer bassline, tight drums, and some great soul vocals ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A great little cut that really lives up to its title – a jazzy mambo taken at a nice fast tempo – complete with some excellent percussion, fast-scatting vocals, and this great flute line that comes along in the middle and makes the whole thing really sparkle! The flipside is great too ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A mighty pairing of funky talents – recording together in Estonia, with a style that really draws on the strengths of both musicians! "Mic Wallace" has some of the soundtrack vibes that Shawn Lee can sometimes bring into his music – but given all these moody, almost spooky ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A fantastic single from Jeff Parker – part of the ever-evolving level of sound that he's hit on his great projects with International Anthem! The tune's as much of a soul track as Jeff's ever recorded – one that begins with beautiful chromes layered from keyboards and guitar – ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Two rare deep soul tracks from the 70s – back to back on a single 45! "Let Me Grow Old" is Oscar Perry's reworking of a Lowell Fulson tune – done with a sweet electric guitar line that snakes through the track, almost in a Miami soul mode – topped with superb vocals ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Two sides of goofy organ blues, by youngster Lucky Peterson. His singing's terrible, and his organ playing's slightly better – but give him points for being a kid, though! 7-inch, Vinyl record
(Gold label Yambo pressing. Plays with some crackles.)
Funky soul from Phenomenal Hand Clap Band – a group who bring some nice 80s elements into their music, while still keeping things nice and warm overall! "Traveler's Prayer" almost feels like soulful fusion from The Crusaders generation – with a great female singer who comes ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Nice novelty single about Muhammad Ali, with kind of a Love Unlimited vocal style, singing the chorus, and famous "celebrity" voices (like Howard Cosell, Rocky, etc) talking about Ali. The groove's actually pretty nice, with kind of a sweet clubby vibe – especially on the ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
The first single from neo-classic soul singer Ben Pirani! "Light Of My Life" does a pretty great job of melding old school styles, from organ and hand percussion, to richer, fuller sounds with horns and harmonies – but it's Ben's voice that gives it all the more credibility. "Dr ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A legendary name for deeper digging, late era Chicago disco connoisseurs – back in action with a couple tracks on the city's increasingly excellent Star Creature label! "Joog With Me" has for a modern electro funk vibe courtesy Liquid Pegasus that's a perfect foil for Donnell's ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
One of the most enigmatic funky combos you'll ever hope to hear – an Estonian outfit who bring plenty of jazz to their groove! "Emu" has this great fast-moving bassline and skittish drums at the core – but there's also a frenetic flute solo over the top, moving between ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
The title kind of says it all – or at least delivers about half the lyrics of the tune – so let us just tell you that the track's an obscure bluesy number from Chicago, with guitar and vocals by Pops, in kind of a rootsy, side-of-Maxwell street sort of mode. 7-inch, Vinyl record
One of Prince's biggest tunes ever – and a track that still sounds surprisingly great to our ears these days – funky, chunky, and completely catchy – with a hook that shouldn't go over so well, but really sends the tune home time and time again! "17 Days" is great too ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(Sleeve is lightly aged, with a small split in the bottom seam.)
Two rare electro soul tracks from west coast underground legend The Prophet! "Right On Time" is quite spare, and has more in the way of beats and basslines than it does a bold lead vocal from the man himself – as The Prophet almost seems to be lurking in the background at times, ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Two rare tracks from the Dore Records archives – back to back on a limited 45! "I Only Cry Once A Day" has a blue-tinged lyric from girl group The Puffs – but it's set to a soaring rhythm that makes the whole thing sound a lot more upbeat overall! "Wind In My Sails" ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Pugs Atomz & Mulatto Patriot feat Wes Restless —
Sweat/Come With Me ... 7-inch Dinked, 2017. New Copy (pic cover)...
$4.99
Pugs Atomz has long been on of Chicago's most versatile indie MCs, and this solid single with Chi producer Mulatto Patriot is real creative win! "Sweat" has a feverish feel for sure, with heavy beat and breezy lighter bit of piano in the mix with Pugs delivering raw rhymes over a vibe ... (Hip Hop, Funky 45's)read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(Limited to 500 copies. Nice picture sleeve, too!)
A great funky remake of the Mandrill tune "Fence Walk" – done in a sharp-stepping vibe that's as strong as the original, but with some nice variations too – and maybe a bit rawer approach on the instrumentation, as well as a sweet fuzzy guitar solo too! The flipside is a Bay ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A cool little record that was co-produced by David Axelrod and Muscle Shoals soul genius Rick Hall, made up entirely of Sam Cooke tunes including "Another Saturday Night", "Chain Gang", "Cool Train", "Take Me For What I Am", "Win Your Love" and ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
(In the fold-out sleeve, with complete strips and LP images!)
As monumental of a late 60s soul single as there were was! "Dock Of The Bay" needs no introduction, but let's just say it's as stirring and effect this far into the next century as it was in 1968. "Sweet Lorene" is the perfect counterpoint cut, a harder hitting southern soul gem ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Wicked work by Jackie Ross – two non-LP sides from her post-Chess years! "Glory Be" is a wonderful Chi-soul tune – sweetly swinging with a classic Okeh/Brunswick sound, handled here by Gerald Sims in a style that shows that the Chicago style was burning strong! "I Must ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Very tasty single that offers 2 obscure duet sides from Chicago – both of which mix hard soul vocals and uptown production in a style that's similar to Ike & Tina, but which has it's own nice sound. Funny that we mention Ike & Tina, though, since "Don't Hit On Me" is a ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Soulful Mongo – 2 60s soul tracks, redone with a sweet Latin finish! "Son Of A Preacher Man" grooves nice and slow – a very nice sax solo snaking around the rhythms! "Cloud Nine" kicks off a lot faster – heavy heavy percussion, really riffing along with the ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Nice modern clubby disco on Star Creature from Saucy Lady & U-Key! "It's All Here" kicks off with a lean, electro boogie backdrop that's compelling on its own, but once the the genuinely soulful vocals by Saucy Lady come in, along with more layered production touches, it really cuts a ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
79.5 have a warm glow right from the start – this shimmering vocal that really makes "Boy Don't Be Afraid" sound like a modern take on sweet soul modes from the 70s – but all set to some nicely funky drums! "I Stay You Stay" is a bit more laidback on the drums, but ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A great disco mix of "Terrorize My Heart" – one that brings a harder edge alongside the vocals of 79.5, thanks to beats that bump strongly alongside a keyboard glow and a bit of flute! Things get funkier on the "bounce mix" from Tall Black Guy – who slows down the ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
Doug Shorts hits the Daptone label – bringing his 80s electro soul mode as a really fresh sound for the imprint! "Casual Encounter" may well be one of Doug's best tunes ever – grounded in these stepping bass pedal lines that are mighty nice – as his vocals crackle over ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
The label mimics the look of an old NWA single on Ruthless – but the Cali love here is something different altogether – fierce, funky instrumental work that has this soundtrack sort of majesty, but peppered with more contemporary production – maybe a bit in the Adrian Younge tip, ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
A pair of standouts from Sly5thAve's breezy, lightly orchestral takes on classic Dr Dre productions! "Still DRE" is one of the sweetest jams of all, taking flight on soulful stings, piano and flute, leading into terser, tighter groove anchored by funky drums. Jimetta Rose's vocal and the ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record
2 nice chunky soul covers from Jimmy! "Respect" is a nice lean take on the Otis Redding groover of the same name – Jimmy in the lead on Hammond, supported by some sharp-edged guitar work! That guitar makes "Funky Broadway" an especially nice take on the song – ... read more7-inch, Vinyl record